How to Grow Rosemary in Your Herb Garden

Cultivating Rosemary for its Healing Properties

The name rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is derived from the Latin words ros (meaning “dew”) and marinus (meaning “sea”). “Dew of the sea” was so named because in some places, the plant required no water apart from the mist carried by the breeze from the sea. Native to Asia and the Mediterranean region, rosemary is known for its sweet, herbaceous flavor, its use as an ornamental plant, and its role in traditional Mediterranean cuisine.

The rosemary plant is a woody, aromatic shrub with blue, purple, or white flowers and leaves like pine needles.

Cultivation of Rosemary

Rosemary can be grown from seeds, cuttings, and roots. Use moderately-fertilized loam with a neutral acidity and grow the plant in a sunny area with good air circulation.

Remove some cuttings about 4 inches long each from the rosemary bush and place them in pots filled with peat moss and coarse sand.

Place the pots in a warm, sun-filled area.

Water regularly until roots begins to grow.

If you wish to transfer your rosemary plants into your garden, find an area where the soil is dry and drains well. If your soil has high acidity, you can add some lime to it.

Once the plants are in the ground, watering should be done less frequently. Overwatering your transplanted plants is not advisable.

Tips on Growing Rosemary

Rosemary prefers a Mediterranean climate, which means dry and warm. It is, however, adaptable to whatever conditions it is grown in.

Slightly alkaline soil produces a more fragrant rosemary shrub.

Rosemary is relatively pest-resistant.

Medicinal Uses of Rosemary

Aside from its usefulness in the kitchen, rosemary is cultivated for its efficacy in traditional and alternative medicine, its versatility as a commercial product, and for various ceremonial uses.

This remarkable herb is chockfull of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, and is an exceptionally good source of folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron. It contains rosmarinic acid, a potent antioxidant, as well as numerous compounds that lend it its antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic qualities.

Improve your memory and focus – The scent of rosemary alone is enough to soothe a worried mind and is conducive to meditation, yoga practice, and quiet time. But, amazingly, rosemary contains rosmarinic acid, an antioxidant that has been found effective in improving concentration and preventing memory loss. Burn rosemary incense or put some rosemary oil in a burner next time you need to relax or focus on a complicated task.

Get silky smooth skin and hair – Rosemary is a popular ingredient in hair and skin care products. To experience the benefits of natural and authentic rosemary on your hair, work a few drops of rosemary essential oil onto your scalp and hair, coating it from root to tip. You will immediately notice a change in texture and luster. Use a combination of rosemary tea and nettle infusion as a hair rinse to get rid of dandruff. Use rosemary oil as a post-bath moisturizer to soothe joint problems and treat skin irritations.

An all-around wonder herb – Rosemary is used to treat and/or relieve the symptoms of hypertension, fatigue, colds, scabies, depression, headaches, and lupus. It helps prevent uterine spasms and menstrual cramps, speeds the healing of wounds, and is a natural insect repellant. Scientists have even found that rosemary may have a preventive effect against cancer.

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